Cartridge transfer mechanism for magazine firearms



Aug. 23, 1949.

y. A. BROWNING CARTRIDGE TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS FiledOct. 28, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet l 'nvvszvrozm VAL A. Brow/sums Au .23,1949. v. A. BROWNING CARTRIDGE TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001.. 28, 1944 B 1% .v, w

INVENTOR. VAL A Baowzvws CARTRIDGE TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINEFIREARMS Filed Oct. 28, 1944 Aug. 23, 1949. v. A. BROWNING 6Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 23, 1949. v., A. BROWNING 2,480,074

CARTRIDGE TRANSFERMECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS Filed Oct. 28, 1944 6Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 23, 1949. v. A. BROWNING 254309074 CARTRIDGETRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS Filed Oct. 28, 1944 sSheets-Sheet 5 a g I 3 m g A ,,M%2 g s sms Q 3 l 2 g -3- Q. ,5,, I 2 aMiw waifi? Q i T & R

' Q 1: i I i i\\ r 3%) g; m: H 1 4L1 x a I Q s *3 G5 i-S A INVENTOR. gVAL A. BIDWNING Aug. 23, 1949. v. A. BROWNING 2,480,974

CARTRIDGE TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS Fild Oct. 28, 1944 eSheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR VAL A. B/PO wmue W x/6%! /04 ATTORNEYS PatentedAug. 23, 1949 CARTRIDGE TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR MAGAZINE FIREARMS Val A.Browning, Ggden, Utah, assignor to J. M. & M. S. Browning Company,Ogden, Utah, a

corporation of Utah Application October 28, 1944, Serial No.560,744

16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in firearms, and is particularlydirected to the mechanism or means for transferring the cartridges orshells to the firing chamber.

The present application is a continuation-inpart of my applicationSerial No. 555,949, filed September 27, 1944, and entitled Firearms.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedarrangement for transferring the successive cartridges from the magazineto the firing chamber and, particularly, to provide an arrangementwherein the magazine may be loaded at all times when the breech block isin breech closing position without the necessity of moving the cartridgecarrier out of the way or the necessity of pushing a manual button orother instrumentality of the type usually employed on firearms of thischaracter, and wherein the carrier is simplified and its operation isimproved.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

lhe following description will be more readily understood by referringto the accompanying drawings, in which similar reference numerals referto similar parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of afirearm embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken generally longitudinally andvertically through the firearm, with parts of the operating mechanismshown in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a like sectional view, of a still greater enlargement, showingthe operating mechanism of the firearm illustrated in Fig. 1 when thesame is in firing position, the rear and forward ends of the firearmbeing omitted;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, in which the parts are in a positionwhich they occupy during an intermediate stage in the recoil stroke, andmore particularly illustrating the barrel in the position which itoccupies toward the end of its recoil stroke and the breech block in aposition where it is unlocked from the barrel and is continuing itsrecoil movement;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but looking at the other side of thefirearm and showing the relative positions of the parts when the breechblock has almost reached the end of its recoil movement and at whichtime the carrier is in depressed position, as shown. to receive a newcartridge from the magazine;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the carrier latched indepressed position and the breech block locked in retracted position, acondition which takes place when the firearm has been fired and themagazine is empty, or when the breech block is manually moved to itsretracted position while there are no cartridges in the magazine;

Fig. '7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but shows the positions which theparts assume while the breech block is moving rearwardly from theposition shown in Fig. 5 to the extreme end of its recoil stroke;

Fig. 8 is a view simi ar to F g. '7 illustrating the relative positionsof the parts when the breech block is approaching the forward end of itsreturn movement and just prior to the locking of the barrel and breechblock;

Fig. 9 is a plan view, partly in cross section, taken on the line 9-9 ofFig. 5 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is an elevational cross sectional view taken on the line Ill-40of Fig. 3 and looking in the direction ofv the arrows;

Fig. 11 is an elevational cross sectional view taken on the line llll ofFig. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view showing the construction of the link;

Fig. 13 is a side view of the closure plate I'm, the right handextractor 56 and the operating handle !9 being shown in phantom;

. Fig. 14 is a top edge view of the closure plate and a portion of thebreech block;

Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing a somewhat differentarrangementof the. carrier depressing lever on the rear end of thecartridge carrier;

Fig. 16 is aview similar to Fig. 6 but showing the carrier depressinglever illustrated in Fig. 15; and

a Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the carrier.

In the drawings, I have shown for illustrative purposes only, theself-loading, recoil operated firearm illustrated and described in mysaid copending application, Serial No. 555,949, it being understood thatsuch a showing is by way of example only, it being apparent that theimprovements of the present invention may be incorporated in firearms ofother types.

Referring to the drawings, the firearm is shown as having a barrel [0,aframe or receiver H, and

a stock I2. The barrel is provided with a barrel extension I3 and acartridge chamber I4. The barrel extension extends into an opening 39 inthe forward end of the receiver. The barrel is further equipped with abarrel guide ring I5 which is slidably mounted on the cylindricalmagazine I6. The receiver or frame ;II is provided with the usualejection opening I! in one side face thereof and a slot I8 extendingfrom the rear edge of said opening to accommodate the operating handle I9. The magazine I6 is secured-to the front .end of the receiver as at 20by screw threads or other suitable attaching means.

The receiver has a chamber Blocated behind the magazine andaccommodating the forward end of the cartridge carrier I00. This chamberis open at its bottom so as to provide a load.- ing opening throughwhich the cartridges may be inserted into the magazine.

The rear of the receiver is equipped with a threaded extension 2! whichserves as a mounting for the inertia member tube 22, which fits withinthe bore 2-3 of the stock I2. The inertia member tube is closed at itsrear end :by a suitable plug 24 whichis provided with an internallythreaded opening .25 for accommodating the stock bolt 26, preferably inthe manner shown in Fig. 2. The stock-bolt 26 extends through a smalleropening 21 in the stock and has an enlarged head 28 abutting the innerend of a larger opening 29 in the stock.

Between the barrel guide ring and the opposed face .of the receiver arecoil spring 30 is provided, together with .one .or more friction rings32-32 which serve to resist the recoil movement of the barrel and torestore the barrel to firing position following recoil. The frictionrings 32732 may be of any suitable construction and are here illustratedas, comprising split collars 33--33 surrounded by suitable-retainersprings 34:73.4. In the firearrn illustrated and as more particularlyexplained in my said application, Serial No. 555,949, the recoil spring,30 and the friction rings 32732; are of such construction that theycollectively provide sufficient resistance to the recoil movement ofthebarrel to stop its rear movement in space within the receiver, thatis without theuse ofabutments or the like. against which the barrel may.strike,

W thi h maeae n be It a u ab e mes zine spring 35 is mounted for.advancing theishells in he magaz ne ear dly n th o ve t o l manner a utmai c oading f t rearm- The forward nd of th ma azine t b t is threadeda at 3 f r ac mirqda ns he mes Zine cap 1 whi h; w th the us a forend 38helds the bar e n mutate os qaw th erect to th rece erthe opposite sidewalls of the receiver, at an intermediate point in the height thereof, apair of opposed grooves 40-40 are provided which constitute slide tracksfor the barrel extension and breech block during their reci rocatoryrecoil and return movements. Laterally projecting flanges 4I-4 I, formedon the lower forward portion of the barrel extension, are slidablymounted in the grooves 4040. The breech block 44 is provided withlaterally extending flanges 45-45 which are likewise slldably mounted inthe grooves 40-40 in the receiver. The breech block is provided with acentrally disposed vertical recess 46 adapted to accommodate the lockingblock 41. One of the lateral faces of the recess 46 of the breech block44 is provided with an arcuate-slot 48 which slidably accommodates a 4correspondingly shaped arcuate lug 49 on the adjacent face of thelocking block,

The forward portion of the breech block is provided with a centralopening 49 for accommodating the firing pin 50. The opening 49' isenlarged, as at 5|, and constitutes a seat for the forward end of thefiring pin spring 52 which is preferably mounted as shown and which, atits opposite end, abuts the flange 53 formed integral- 1y with thefiring pin. The intermediate portion of the firing pin is accommodatedin the central slot 54 in the locking block 41, and its rear end isslidably mounted in a suitable opening therefor in the retaining plate55. The breech block is further provided with suitable extractors 5656on the opposite sides thereof, of conventional construction.

The barrel extension I3 has a longitudinally extending groove I30 foraccommodating the extractor 56 located on the adjacent side of thebreech block. At the rear of the barrel extension and at the end of thegroove I30 is the ejector l3! which serves in cooperation with the ex.-tractors to eject the spent cartridge. In addition, the barrel extensionis provided with the locking opening I32 which is adapted to receive theprojecting end of the locking block in such manner as to lock the breechblock and the barrel extension in cooperative relationship. The lockingopening I32 has a lock-engaging face I33 with which the face I34 on thelocking block is adapted to cooperate.

In the bottom of the-breech block there. is a centrally disposed slot 51which accommodates the locking block latch 58 pivoted to the breechblock at 5 9. This latch has an extension 60 bearing upon thecompression spring ill mounted in the recess 62 of the breech block. Thelatch extends toward the rear of the firearm and has a locking endportion 63 adapted to engage the shoulder 04 of the locking block whenthe loci ing block is moved to unlocked position (see Figure 4).

The lower rear corner of the locking block is pivoted at E5 to a link 66Which extends rear.- wardly and terminates in a suitable pivot member,such as 61, for pivotal connection to the inertia member 68. As moreparticularly shown in Fig. 2, the inertia member $58 is slidably mountedin the inertia member tube 22 and also has abutting engagement with theaction spring 69. The opposite end of the action spring is seatedagainst the plug 24 which closes the rear end of the inertia member tube22. The inertia member 63 is further equipped with the rearwardlyprojecting extension 98 which has sufficient length to abut the plug 24in the extreme rearward position of the inertia member to form anultimate stop for the recoil movement of the inertia member and breechblock. A cushioning washer or disc I50 is preferably placed on top ofthe plug 24.

The firing mechanism here illustrated comprises a trigger plate Illhaving a central slot 12 and a trigger guard l l. The trigger it! ispivoted on the pin 14 and has an upwardly extending end 15 pivoted at T5to the counterbalancing link TI. The other end of the link IT is pivotedas at 18 to the upper arm of the sear 7S3 mounted for oscillatorymovement around the axis of a pin 89. The pin extends through an openingin the sear and projects on opposite sides thereof and is accommodatedin the semi-circular bearings formed in the extensions 8I8I on the upperface of the trigger plate. The lower end of 5 the sear extendsdownwardly and presents a portion 82 in spaced and opposed relationshipto a portion 83 of the trigger. These portions Hand 83, respectively,are provided with recesses, as shown in Fig. 3, in which the oppositeends of a compression coil spring 84 are mounted. The lower arm of thesear is'provided with a hammer-engaging tooth 85 which coacts with thehammer notch 86 on the hammer 81 for holding the hammer. in cockedposition. The hammer is pivotallymounted on a pin 88 carried by the lugs09-89 extending upwardly from the forward portion of the trigger plate.The upper arm of the sear is provided with a tooth or hook 90 forengaging a cooperating tooth SI on'the hammer'in the event that thetrigger is held pulled after firing a shot.

Extending through the hammer adjacent its pivot is 'a pin 02 equippedwith parallel diametrically disposed holes 93 which accommodate theforward ends of the main spring guide rods 94-44. These rods are eachprovided with an integral flange 95 adjacent their forward ends to limittheir forward movement with respect to the pin 92 and to provideabutments for the forward ends of the main springs 96-436. The pin 80 islikewise provided with parallel diametrically extending holes 91-0!which slidably accommodate the rear ends of the main spring guide rods9494. The trigger plate may be attached to the receiver by pins I 30located in longitudinally extending grooves I35 provided in the sidefaces of the trigger plate and which cooperate with complementarysemi-circular grooves provided in the opposed faces of the receiver. V

A'carrier I is also mounted in the lower portion of the receiver andpreferably comprises a pair of spaced arms IOIIOI pivoted on the carrierpin I92 which has its opposite ends mounted in the spaced side walls ofthe receiver. Suitable bushings HIE-42B are provided so as to maintainthe carrier in a proper centralized position in the receiver. Theforward ends of the arms IQI-IIH of the carrier I00 are connected bymeans of a cross pin I03 and the rear ends thereof are connected by across pin I04. The

carrier arms IflI-IOI are so constructed and arranged that they straddlethe upper portion of the firing mechanism and have a sliding and guidingcontact with the lugs 30--89 on the forward end of the trigger plate.These lugs guide the carrier in its vertical movements and preventlateral movement thereof so that the pivot pin I02 is relieved oftortional strains.

In the embodiment shown in Figs. 3 to 8, there is mounted on the rearpin I04, between the arms of the carrier, a pair of locking pawls I05I05which are adapted, under certain conditions, to engage in the notch I60of the link 66 for the purpose of locking thebreech block in recoiledposition, as shown in Fig. '6. The pawls are spaced apart to provide acentral space for accommodating the carrier-depressing lever I06. Thelocking pawls I05 and the carrier-depressing lever I06 are all pivotallymounted on the pin I04, and the locking pawls are held in operativepositions by means of the ends I0'I--I0'I of the coil springs I08I08,respectively. The ends I01 extend into the slots I09 on the outerlateral faces of the pawls, whereby through the depressing action of thesprings the pawls are held in operative position and at the same time adownward pressure is exerted on the pin I04. This downward pressure onthe pin I04 causes the opposite end of the carrier to be normally urgedin an upward direction. The carrier-depressing lever I06 has its upperend extended sufficiently to occupy the space constituting the centralslot H0 in the link 66, and for engagement, at the proper moment, withthe shoulders or cam faces III and located at the forward and rear endsof the slot IIO. It will be observed from Figs. 5 and 6 that when thebreech block is in recoiled position, the upper end of the lever I06extends into the forward end of the tube 22, and thus movement of thelever is accommodated without increasing the length of the receiver.Further, as shown in Fig. 3, when the parts are in firing position, theupper end of the lever I96 is adjacent the pivot pin I02 and projectsinto the slot H0 of the link just forwardly of the rear shoulder H8 ofthe slot. This is of advantage in that the lever will prevent the;breech block and associated parts from accidentally being projectedthrough the forward end of the receiver under the influence of theaction spring 69 in case the barrel is removed from the receiver.

The lower end of the carrier-depressing lever IDS is formed toconstitute a cam IIZ which in certain positions is adapted to engage andbear upon the upper face H3 of the bearing block II slidably mounted ina groove H5 in the upper face of the trigger plate. Forward movement ofthe bearing block IId is limited by means of pin H6 and the block isnormally urged in contact with the pin by means of the compresion springI I.

The arrangement of the carrier shown in the embodiment of Figs. 15 to1'7, inclusive, is generally similar to that just described inarrangement and operation. However, instead of having two separatelypivoted locking pawls I05-Iii5, in the embodiment shown in Figs. 15 to17, inelusive, the carrier depressing lever 105 is provided with anintegral tooth I05 which constituts a locking pawl adapted to cooperatewith the notch I60 of the link 65. The lever M35 is maintained centrallyon the pin H94 by two short sleeves I14. Extending through the leverI06, adjacent the pivot thereof, is a pin I13 which, in length, isslightl less than the distance between the two arms IOI of the carrierso that the pin may swing in the space between those arms and the armswill prevent the pin from moving transversely of the lever. When thebreech block is in the recoiled position shown in Fig. 16, the endsI0'I-I01 of the springs "28-408 engage the pin I13 and thereby urge thelever I05 into the locking position shown. When the breech block is inbreech closing position, the ends I0? of the spring engage the cross pinI04, as shown in Fig. 15.

As particularly illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and 9, inclusive, the innerface of one wall of the receiver, atthe location adjacent the exit ofthe magazine, is provided with a recess I2I in which is pivotallymounted the carrier lock and cartridge stop member I22. This member maybe constructed in the manner illustrated in the drawings, and the pivotI23 therefor extends vertically as shown in Fig. 5. The outer face ofthe member I22 is provided with a recess I 24 for accommodating theconical compression spring I25 which also bears on the face of thereceiver recess and acts to urge the associated end of the carrier lockand cartridge stop member I22 outwardly into the space of the receiver.The forward end of the member I22 constitutes a stop forthe cartridgescontained in the magaas e t;

zine and the rear end of the member I22 constitutes a lock for holdingthe carrier in depressed position under certain conditions. Thearrangement, relation, and movements of the carrier and the carrier lockand cartridge stop member I22 are such that when, and only when,thecarrier is in the depressed or cartridge receiving position shown inFigs. 5, 6 and 9 and the magazine is empty of cartridges, the rear ofthe member I22 overlies the adjacent arm I ill of the carrier so thatthe carrier is locked down. In all other positions of the carrier, thethereof lies in the path of inward movement of the rear end of themember so that that end will bear against the outer face of said arm andthus the member I22 is held in a position where the forward end thereofis in cartridge stop position. It is understood, of course, that when acartridge is delivered from the magazine onto the carrier, the flange onthe rear end of the cartridge wiil force itself between the receiverwall and the member I 22, and thus force the member to the full lineposition shown in Fig. 9. The forward end of the member 522 is resilientand yieldable whereby it is free to move towards the wall of thereceiver during the insertion of cartridges into the magazine and tospring back to cartridge stop position after each cartridge has been soinsert ed. In order to manually disengage the member I22 from thecarrier when the parts are in the position show in Fig. 6, a button Milis conveniently presented on the outside of the receiver.

The operation of the firearm will now be described and, as a startingpoint, it will be assumed that the firearm is in the firing conditionshown in Fig. 3, a shell is in the firing chamber, and shells are in themagazine. Upon pulling the trigger, the hammer fi'l is released from thesear I9 so that the hammer is free to swing (under the influence of themain springs 96) from the full line position to the dotted line positionshow in Fig. 3 thus strikng the firing pin and causing explosion of theshell within the firing chamber. As a resu't of the explosion, the powergases generated act against the forward face of the breech block andcause the barrel, the breech block, the link, and the inertia member tomove rapidly rearwardly in recoil. The recoil movement of the barrelcauses a corresponding rearward movement of the barrel guide ring l aswell as the friction rings 32 and also a compression of the recoilspring 36. As ex lained more full in my said application, Serial No.555,949, the re istance o the recoil re istance means, including thespring and the fric ion rings, is such that the recoil movement of thebarrel will be rapidly decelerated after it has reached its highestrecoil veloc t and rearward movement of the barrel is yieldinglyterminated in space at a variabe pont depending u on the character andintensity of the charge and then the recoil spring will return thebarrel to its forward or normal posit on.

During the initial portion of the decelerating recoil movement of thebarrel, the breech block, being connected to the barrel, tends todecelerate therewith while the inertia member tends to continue at itsthen attained velocity so that the inertia member will exert a rearwardpull on the locking block and draw it downwardly out of lockingengagement with the barrel extension. Unlocking of the locking blockfrom the barrel starts as soon as the recoil movement of the barrelbegins to decelerate, and the unlocking is entirely effected before thebarrel has reached its rear-most position. The breech block, link, andinertia member continue their movement to the rear under the influenceof their own momentum and against the action of the action spring; Suchrecoil movement of the breech block will be terminated when theextension 98 of the inertia member engages the cushioning disk I50 onthe closing plug 24, whereupon the action spring (the barrel in themeantime having been returned to firing position) will advance theinertia block and breech block to their forward position so that thefirearm is again in the condition shown in Fig. 3 ready to be fired.

The rearward movement of the breech block and the simultaneous forwardmovement of the barrel extension cause an extraction of the spent shellfrom the firing chamber by virtue of the fact that the flange of thecartridge is engaged by the extractors 56, 56 mounted on the breechblock. When the relative movement between the breech block and thebarrel extension has progressed to the point where the flange of thecartridge is brought into engagement with the ejector I3I carried on thebarrel extension, the spent cartridge is ejected laterally through theejection opening I'I. During th rearward movement of the link 66, theshoulder III thereof engages the hammer 8'! and pivots the hammerbackwardly to its cocked position.

Continuing the description of the operation of the firearm, particularlyin connection with the carrier, when the firearm is in firing condition,as shown in Figs-3 and 15, the forward end of the carrier I60 is in anelevated position so that cartridges may be inserted in the magazine. Inthis position, the springs I08 resiliently maintain the forward portionof the carrier up against the bottom of the breech block. Furthermore,in this position of the carrier and, in fact, in all other positionsthereof (except when the carrier is in depressed or cartridge receivingposition shown in Figs. 6 and 16) and during the movement of the carrierup and down, the rear end of the carrier lock and cartridge stop memberI22 bears against the outside face of the right hand arm IUI of thecarrier I60 so that the member I22 is held in cartridge stop position.Upon firing the firearm, the link 66 and associated recoil parts recoilrearwardly as previously described and as the link 66 approaches itsrearmost recoil position, the shoulder I I I on the link will engage theupper end of the carrier-depressing lever (see Fig. 5) and rock the samerearwardly so as to cause thecam extension H2 (or II2) on the oppositeend thereof to move downwardly in engagement with the upper face II3 ofthe bearing block II 4. In view of the fact that the cam extension hasgreater height than the distance between the upper face of the bearingblock and the pivot pin I04 when the carrier is in the intermediateposition shown in Fig. 4, the continued movement of thecarrier-depressing lever will cause the pivot pin I04 to be raised and,consequently, the opposite end of the carrier to be depressed to aposition where it may receive a new cartridge from the magazine, asshown in Fig. 5. On continued rearward movement of the link (from theposition shown in Fig. 5 to that shown in Fig. 7), the cam extensionrides off of the bearing block II4 whereupon the springs I08 are free toraise the forward end of the carrier to the position shown in Fig. 7. Inthis position, the cartridge just received from the magazine is held inelevated position by the carrier in alignment with the firing chamber.When the car- .notch H of the link 66 Fig. 6. In the event, however,that the magazine is not empty, the rearmost cartridge therein,

' as soon as the carrier ismoved to depressed position, will be snappedback onto the carrier by the magazine spring 35, and the head of thiscartridge will bear against the rear portion of the member I22 therebycamming the member I22 to the full line position shown in Fig. 9, sothat the carrier is free to be raised by the springs I08. In this latteroperation, there may be, in some instances, a short period during whichthe carrier is latched down by the member i speed with which thecartridge is fed onto the carrier and other factors. During the returnforward movement of the breech block, the carrier is cammed downwardlyby the breech block from the full elevated position in Fig. '7 to theintermediate position shown in Fig. 3. Also, as the breech block isapproaching its normal forward position, the shoulder H8 provided by therear end of the slot I I8 in the link 56 will engage 'the upper end ofthecarrier-depressing lever III E (or I05) and move the same forwardlyand thereby swing the cam extension to the position shown in Fig. 8.During such movement of the cam extension, it will engage and move thebearing block I It backwardly until it clears the same and then theblock is snapped forwardly by the spring I.

As previously indicated, when the last cartridge is fired, there beingno more in the magazine,

the breech block will be automatically locked in its recoiled positionas shown in Figs. 6 and 16. In this position of the parts, the memberI22 locks the carrier in depressed position and the locking pawls I05(or the pawl I05) are disposed in a position where on the underside andadjacent the forward end of the link 66. The locking pawls engage in thenotch I60 upon initial forward movement of the breech block and thelink. When it is desired to close the firearm, that may be accomplishedby manually pushing the button I49 inwardly so as to move the forwardend of the member I22 into cartridge stop position and the rear end ofthe member I22 out of locking relation with the carrier. When thecarrier is thus unlocked, the

forward end thereof will move upwardly under the influence of thesprings I08 thereby disengaging the pawls I (or the pawl I05) from thewhereupon the breech block is free to be moved forwardly by the actionspring 69. The action spring, acting through the link 66 and the pawls,assists the carrier springs I08 in raising the forward end of thecarrier, and this may also occur when there is a cartridge in themagazine and the cartridge, when expelled therefrom, moves the rear endof the member I22 out of locking relation to the carrier.

It is noted that with the construction described, the barrel has arelatively short recoil stroke and this, together with the relativelyshort breech block, permits the use of a receiver of minimum length witha consequentreduction in size and weight Of the firearm. This reductionin length also permits the upper rear portion of the receiver to berounded off to give a new depending upon the they engage the shoulderI60 streamlined appearance to the firearm. The breech block, however, isnot of sufficient length to provide a complete closure for the ejectionopening II. In order that the ejection opening may be closed when thebreech block is in forward position, a closure plate H0 is slidablyounted on the breech block. As shown in Figs. 11, 13 and 14, the breechblock, in its right hand side face, has a longitudinally extendingdovetailed groove I68 in which is slidably mounted a correspondinglyshaped rib III provided on the closure plate. The groove is open at itsrear end so that the rib may be inserted thereinto. The groove I88 has ashoulder IE9 at it forward end so as to limit forward movement of theplate with respect to the breech block. The forward end I12 of the plateI'll} is bent inwardly so as to engage the forward end of the breechblock and thereby limit the extent to which the plate may moverearwardly with respect to the breech block. The plate is made of thinspring metal so that this forward end may be sprung outwardly asuflicient "distance to permit the rib III to be slipped into the grooveI58 and the plate moved forwardly until its end I12 snaps over theforward end of the breech block. The plate is of sufficient length toprovide a full length closure for the ejectionopening, and at the sametime, by virtue ofits sliding relationship to the breech block, it

maypmove forwardly and rearwardly by engagement with the receiver andthe barrel extension, respectively, during the recoil and returnmovements of the breech block.

As, many changes could be made in the above construction and'manyapparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be madewithout departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or'shown in the accompanying"drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and language, might besaid to fall therebetween.

I claim as my invention:

. 1. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel, a magazine extending forwardlyfrom said receiver and located beneath said barrel, said receiver havinga chamber behind the magazine open at its bottom so as to permitinsertion of cartridges into the magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a pivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted formovement between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it holds a cartridge thereon in alignment withthebarrel, spring means constantly .urgingthe carrier towards itselevated position and constructed and arranged to maintain the carrierup out of. cartridge-receiving position at .alltimes exceptwhensaidbreech block is substantially in its rearmost position, and meansassociated with and operated by the breech block for positively movingsaid carrier downwardly to cartridge receiving position as the breechblock approaches the rear end of its rearward move- ,ment.,

2. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel, a magazine extending forwardlyfrom said receiver and lothe magazine, a'breechblock mounted forreciproc'ation, a pivoted carrier behind'th'e magazine and mounted Iormovement between a depressed cartridge receivmg'position and an elevatedposition where it holds a cartridge thereon in ali nment With thebarrel, springmeans constantly urging tne carrier towards its elevatedposition and constructed'and' arrangedto maintain the carrier up out oicartridge-receiving position at all times except when said breech blockissubstantialiy in its rearmost position, and means associated with andoperated by the breech block for positively moving said carrierdownwardly to cartridge receiving position as the breech blockapproaches the rear end of its rearward movement, said breech block,when moving into breech closing position, camming the carrier downwardlyto an intermediate position in which said spring means maintains thecarrier up against the breech block.

3. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel, a magazine extending forwardlyfrom said receiver and located beneath said barrel, said receiver havinga chamber behind the magazine open at its bottom 50 as to permitinsertion of cartridges into the magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a pivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted formovement between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it holds a cartridge thereon in alignment withthe barrel, springs means urging the carrier towards its elevatedposition and constructed and arranged to maintain the carrier up out ofcartridge-receiving position at all times except when said breech blockis substantially in its rearmost position, and cam means operated by thebreech block as it approaches the rear end of its rearward stroke formoving said carrier downwardly to cartridge receiving position and thenimmediately releasing the carrier for upward movement by said spring.

4. In a firearm, a receiver, a barrel, a magazine extending forwardlyfrom said'receiver and located beneath said barrel, said receiver havinga chamber behind the magazine open at its bottom so as to permitinsertion of cartridges into the magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a carrier pivoted between its ends and located behind themagazine and niountedfor movement between a depressed cartridgereceiving position and an elevated position where it holds the cartridgethereon in alignment with the barrel, spring means constantly urging thecarrier towards its elevated position and constructed and arranged tomaintain the carrier up out of cartridge-receiving position at all timesexcept when said breech block is substantially in its rearmost position,a carrier-depressing lever pivoted on the rear end of said carrier, andmeans associated with and operated by said breech block for moving saidlever in a direction to move said carrier downwardly to cartridgereceiving position when the breech block approaches the end of itsrearward stroke and for moving said lever in the opposite direction toan operative position when the breech block approaches the end of itsforward stroke.

5. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a carrier pivoted between its ends behind said magazineand mounted for movement between a depressedcar tridge receivingposition and an elevated position where it holds the cartridge thereonin alignment with the barrel, a link connected to and extendingrearwardly from said breech block and arranged to reciprocate therewith,said link having a longitudinally extending slot with shoulders at theopposite ends thereof, a carrier-depressing lever pivoted on the rearend of said carrier and having'an arm extending into said slot, theshoulder at'tne forward end or said'slot being arranged to engage saidlever and move the same'in a direction to move the carrier to cartridgereceiving position When the breech block approaches the end of itsrearward stroke, the shoulder at the rear' end of said slot beingarranged to engage said lever to restore the same to operative position'when the breech block approaches the end of its forward stroke andspring means constantly urging the carrier towards its elevated positionand constructed and arranged'to maintain the carrier up out of cartridgereceiving position at all times except when said breech block issubstantially in its rearmost position.

6. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a pivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted formovement between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it holds a cartridge thereon in alignment withthe barrel,

spring means constantly urging the carrier towards its elevated positionand constructed and arranged to maintain the carrier up out ofcartridge-receiving position at all times except when said breech blockis substantially in its rearmost position, a bearing block below andadjacent the rear end of the carrier, a lever pivoted to the rear end ofsaid carrier and having an extension adapted to bear upon said block, ashoulder associated with said breech block arranged to env gage saidlever when the breech block approaches the end of its rearward strokecausing the extension to engage said bearing block and thereby move saidcarrier downwardly to cartridge receiving position.

7. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine below the barrel, a breech blockmounted for reciprocation relative to the barrel, a cartridge carrierfor receiving a cartridge from the magazine and transferring it to aposition where it may be fed by the advancing breech block into thebarrel, spring means urging the carrier towards its elevated positionand constructed and arranged to maintain the carrier up out ofcartridge-receiving position at all times except when said breech blockis substantially in its rearmost position, a carrierdepressing leverpivoted on the rear end of said carrier, means movable with the breechblock for moving said lever in a direction to depress the carrier whenthe breech block approaches the end of its rearward movement, a bearingblock against'which said lever is arranged to bear when it is so moved,said lever being arranged to ride on of .said bearing block when thecarrier has bee'i fully depressed, and means associated with andoperated by the breech block for restoring said lever into operativerelation with said bearing block as the breech block moves forwardly tobreech closing position.

8. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine below the barrel, a breech blockmounted for reciprocation relative to the barrel, a cartridge carrierfor receiving a cartridge from the magazine and transferring it to aposition where it may be fed by the advancing breech block into thebarrel, a carrierdepressing lever pivoted on the rear end of saidcarrier, means movable with the breech block for moving said lever in adirection to depress the carrier when the breech block approaches theend of its rearward movement and for moving the lever in the'oppositedirection to restore it ;to operative position when the breech blockapproaches the end of its forward movement, a slidable bearing blockagainst which said lever is arranged to bear when moved in said firstmentioned direction, said lever being arranged to ride off of saidbearing block when the carrier has been fully depressed, a springnormally urging said bearing block, into-operative position with respectto said lever, and spring means constantly urging the carrier towardsits elevated position receiver, a tube extending from the rearend of andopening into said receiver, a link connected to said breech blockand'arranged to reciprocate therewith and to move into said tube, apivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted for movement between adepressed cartridge receiving position and an elevated position where itholds the cartridge thereon in alignment with the barrel, acarrier-depressing lever pivoted on the rear end of said carrier andhaving an arm, said link having a shoulder arranged to engage said armand turn the lever in a direction to move the carrier to cartridgereceiving position when the breech block approaches the end of itsrearward stroke, said arm of the lever being accommodated by said tubewhen the breech block is at the rear end of its rearward movement, andspring (means constantly urging the carrier towards its elevatedposition and constructed and arranged to maintain the carrier up out ofcartridge receiving position at all times except when said breech blockis substantially in its rearmost position.

10. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a link connected to and extending rearwardly from saidbreech block and arranged to reciprocate therewith, said link having anotch, a carrier pivoted between its ends behind said magazine andmounted for movement between a depressed cartridge receiving positionand an elevated position where it holds the cartridge thereon inalignment with the barrel, a carrier-depressing lever pivotally mountedon the rear end of said carrier and arranged to be operated by said linkto move the carrier to cartridge receiving position when the breechblock approaches the end of its rearward stroke, a locking pawl pivotedOn the rear end of said carrier and arranged to cooperate with saidnotch to lock the breech block in its recoiled position, and springmeans constantly urging the carrier towards its elevated position andholding said pawl in operative position with respect to said notch insaid link, said spring means being constructed and arranged to maintainthe carrier up out of cartridge-receiving position at all times exceptwhen said breech block is substantially in its rearmost position.

11. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a link connected to and extending rearwardly from saidbreech block and arranged to reciprocate therewith, said link having anotch, a carrier pivoted between its ends behind said magazine andmounted for movement between a depressed cartridge receiving positionand an elevated position where it holds the cartridge thereon inalignment with the barrel, a carrier-depressing lever mounted on therear end of said carrier and arranged to be oper- .ated by said link tomove the carrier to cartridgereceiving position when the breech blockapproaches the end of its rearward stroke, a tooth integral with saidlever and arranged to cooperate with said notch to lock the breech blockin its recoiled position, and spring means constantly urging saidcarriertowards its elevated position, said spring means being constructed andarranged to maintain said carrier up out of cartridge receiving positionat all times except when said breech block is substantially in itsrearmost position.

12. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a pivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted formovement between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it holds the cartridge thereon in alignment withthe barrel, spring means constantly urging the carrier towards itselevated position and constructed and arranged to maintain the carrierup out of cartridge receiving position at all times except when thebreech block is substantially in its rearmost position, means associatedwith said breech block for moving said carrier downwardly to cartridgereceiving position as the breech block moves rearwardly, and a cartridgestop maintained in cartridge stopping position by the carrier in allpositions of the latter except when the carrier is in cartridgereceiving position, said cartridge stop member being movable'into andout of cartridge-stopping position when said carrier is incartridge-receiving position.

13. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a pivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted formovement between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it holds the cartridge thereon in alignment withthe barrel, spring means constantly urging the carrier towards itselevated position and constructed and arranged to maintain the carrierup out of cartridge receiving position at all times except when thebreech block is substantially in its rearmost position, means associatedwith said breech block for moving said carrier downwardly to cartridgereceiving position as the breech block moves rearwardly, and a combinedcarrier lock and cartridge stop member maintained by the carrier incartridge stopping position in all positions of the carrier except whenthe carrier is in cartridge receiving position, said member, when saidcarrier is in depressed position, being movable into and out of lockingrelation to the carrier and respectively out of and into cartridgestopping position.

14. In a firearm, a barrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a pivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted formovement between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it holds the cartridge thereon in alignment withthe barrel, spring means constantly urging the carrier towards itselevated position and constructed and arranged to maintain the carrierup out of cartridge receiving position at all times except when thebreech block is substantially in its rearmost position, means associatedwith said breech block for moving said carrier downwardly to cartridgereceiving position as the breech block moves rearwardly, a combinedcarrier lock and cartridge stop member pivoted between its ends andresiliently urged out of cartridge stopping position, the rear end ofsaid member overlying said carrier when the latter is in cartridge reseeers ee'iving position and engaging against the side of thee-arrierin'all other positions of the latter whereby the carrier maintains saidmember in cartridge stopping position.

15. In a firearm, a barrel, a-:magazine, a breech block mounted -forreciprocation, apivoted carrier behind the magazine and mountediorsmovemerit between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it holds the cartridge thereon in alignment withthe barrel, spring means constantly'urging the-carrier towards itselevated position and constructed and arranged to maintain thecarrier upout of cartridge receiving position at all-times except when the breechblock is substantiallyin its rearmost position, means operated by therearward movement of the breech blockfor moving said carrierdownwardlyto cartridge receiving positridge stop member maintained-bythe carrier in cartridge stopping position in all positions of thecarrier except when the carrier is in depressed position, said memberbeing arranged to lock said carrier in cartridge receiving position andto be movedout of locking relation thereto when the 'cartridgeiisdelivered onto the carrier, and means operatively associated with thecarrier and breech block for locking the latter in retracted positionwhen said carrier is locked by said member in cartridge receivingposition.

16. In a firearm, abarrel, a magazine, a breech block mounted forreciprocation, a pivoted carrier behind the magazine and mounted formovement between a depressed cartridge receiving position and anelevated position where it "holds the cartridge thereon in alignmentwith the barrel, spring means constantly urging the car- 1 6 "riertowards its elevated position and constructed and-arrangedto maintainthe carrier up out of cartridgereceiving position at all times exceptwhen the breech blockis substantially-in its rearmost-position, andmeans operated by the rearward movement of-the breech block for movingsaid carrierdownwardly to-cartridge receiving position and thenimmediately releasing the ca rier--for--upward movement under theinfiuence of said'spri-ng means, a combined carrier lock and cartridgestop member maintained bythe carrier in -cartridge .-stoppingz positionin all positions of the-carrierexcept when the-carrier is in depressedposition, said memberl'being adapted to ,lock said carriei in cartridgereceiving position and to be -oammedout 01- locked position and intocartridge :stopp'ing position when acartridge is snappedback-ontothecarrier, means operatively associated with the carrier andbreech block for lockingthe latter in retracted position when saidcarrierzisilocked bysaid member in cartridge receivingupositions VAL A.BROWNING.

REFERENCES CIT-ED The-followingreferences are of record in the file ofthis patent:

Y UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 5'16;417' Wackermann Mar; '13,1894 659507 Browning- -0ct:'9, 1900 7985512 Johnson Aug129, 19051,043,717 Pesek Nov. 5', 1912 129,527 Swebilius'et a1 Feb. '23; 19151363;696 Thompson Dec. "28', 1920 852,411 Henry Apr. 5, 1932-2;t90',340- Browning Aug. I7, 1937

